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What Supplements or other Foods can be included in a Raw Diet?


In our other recent articles we discussed the basic guide we use to breakdown your pet’s raw diet, and the types of Meat, Bone and Organs and their main benefits. 

Now we’ll move onto the various other foods and supplements that can easily be added into your pet’s Raw diet as required.   

What other common foods and supplements can be added to your Raw diet?

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

Some of the most popular Fruits and Veges are below. Please note that all fruits and vegetables should ideally be pureed prior to feeding as this assists with digestion. 

  • Yellow/Orange Veges
  • Broccoli
  • Coconut
  • Peas
  • Pineapple
  • Blackberries
  • Cucumber
  • Blueberries – Blueberries are particularly good at decreasing chronic inflammation and are rich in vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as trace minerals.  Unlike many other superfoods, scientists have done studies of feeding blueberries to dogs. Studies have found that antioxidants, like those in blueberries, help fight free radicals, which are responsible for cellular and molecular damage in dogs and humans. As an added bonus, studies show that adding antioxidants to a dog’s diet reduces the effects of brain aging. 

(DO NOT FEED – Salt, Onion, Grapes, Raisins, Walnuts, Avocados, Chocolate, Apple Seeds, any fruit pits, green tomatoes, macadamia nuts, Xylitol (sweetener) and Caffeine.)


OTHER FOODS

  • Natural Yoghurt
  • Eggs – Whole raw egg (shell included) makes a very nutritious and healthy snack for your dog. The eggs should be organic, farm-fresh and free of chemicals to be safe and only fed every 3 days. Eggs are a great source of protein, help provide a healthy coat and contain: Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium, Fatty Acids and Protein.
  • Honey –  Honey is full of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your dog needs to stay happy and healthy.  It can help with allergies, skin conditions, coughing & throat irritations, digestion and managing weight. Just be sure to start with a small amount and look out for any changes in behavior or bowel movements.  A general dosage guide is below.  Honey  is not usually recommended for dogs with diabetes or  under 1 year of age.

SUPPLEMENTS

Apple Cider Vinegar – It’s strong antioxidant and antibacterial qualities are just the start.  Apple Cider Vinegar can help with overall health and a range of conditions from Itchy, flaking skin and dull coats and repelling fleas, to keeping ears clean and preventing UTI’s. Order Now >

Flaxseed Oil – May be used to supplement your animal’s existing diet. Due to its high Omega 3 content (up to 60% as ALA), this product can eliminate a dull dry coat and promote healthy skin in your animal. Order Now >

Fish Oil – Fish oil supports your canine companion’s heart health, promotes a silky coat, reduces itchy and flaky skin, and can help relieve allergies and joint pain. It can even help strengthen their immune system and could help them fight canine cancer.

Chia Seeds – One of the planet’s superfoods, filled with a massive amount of nutrients and antioxidants with very few calories, it is also a great protein filler in your pets Raw diet. 28 grams is made up of = Fiber: 11 grams. Protein: 4 grams. Fat: 9 grams (5 of which are Omega-3s). Calcium: 18% of the RDA. Manganese: 30% of the RDA. Magnesium: 30% of the RDA. Phosphorus: 27% of RDA. They also contain a decent amount of Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and Vitamin B2.  Order Now >

Turmeric – This commonly used herb has so many wonderful benefits that can replace the need for conventional medicines like Arthritis medication and Steroids.  Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, can help fight Cancer, can relieve Arthritis pain, can treat gastrointestinal disorders and is a powerful antioxidant. We have certified organic human quality Turmeric available online. Order Now >

Kelp – Seaperia Ascophyllum nodosum Seaweed Meal is a fantastic supplement and is one of nature’s most complete sources of trace elements and complex carbohydrates.  It is 100% Organic, GM Free, Additive Free and Chemical Free, Natural Source of Iodine, perfect for all animals, improves glossiness of coat, increased general health, with resistance to parasites & diseases, can lead to more female offspring, and can balance iodine deficiency. Order Now >

Great for all livestock, dogs, cats, chooks, horses, even budgies or cockatiels. All living things can benefit from the trace elements, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Ascophyllum nodosum contains prebiotics for digestive health, improving microflora and ensuring your animals are able to gain the best nutrition from their feed.

It is also great in pot plants and garden beds as a mineralizer and for its water holding capacity, and can be added to composts and worm farms.
Seaperia Meal is sustainably harvested from the icy waters off the Norwegian coast – this is 100% pure organic seaweed. https://www.seaperia.com/

Kelp is arguably the best natural source of iodine, which is severely deficient in almost all Australian pasture.

Please consult one of our team, or your holistic vet before starting any new supplements.

Are supplements, probiotics, and digestive enzymes really needed?

We are not against supplements, however we prefer to use natural foods to satisfy a well-rounded diet. We mainly get all the nutrients from the raw source, rather than from supplements. For instance, whole mullet is better than fish oil for Omega 3, grass-fed red meats are high in Omega 3, Heart is high in Q10. Sometimes it is more convenient to supplement, but you need to be careful not to over-supplement. Some supplements are helpful when taken occasionally but can actually be detrimental to a healthy dog when taken too often (daily). For example, digestive enzymes can be very helpful when your pet is switching to a new raw diet, but if given continually, they can hinder the body’s natural production of enzymes. Another reason is that dietary needs differ for every individual pet. Not every dog needs the same supplements as another.

It is important to note that there are dogs with compromised immune systems or other health issues. These dogs will benefit from the continued use of both probiotics and digestive enzymes. They cannot produce digestive enzymes, thus they would be on antibiotics or other medicine indefinitely. Probiotics and digestive enzymes used continually are beneficial in these cases. But, if your pet is generally healthy and is being fed a raw diet rich in natural food nutrients, they are probably getting everything they need already. Over-supplementation may cause their body to slow down or even halt production of some naturally occurring enzymes.

If you are unsure, please contact your local holistic vet to provide you with the appropriate vitamin mix.If you have any further questions, feel free to ask our friendly team!


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